Independent participatory media for Iran

Indonesia’s ambassador to Tehran reports that of the 18,000 Iranians that visit Indonesia each year, more than half do not return to Iran.

In an interview with ISNA, Indonesian Ambassador Dian Wirengjurit reported that most Iranians who travel to Indonesia use it as an illegal immigration route to Australia.

Iran, according to the Indonesian Ambassador, is on the country’s tourism blacklist, adding that the list includes 20 other countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, and Indonesia plans to implement stricter supervision of travel and immigration from these countries.

Wirengjurit said 486 Iranians are currently in Indonesian prisons, and 47 are on death row. Most of these prisoners are reportedly jailed for drug offences.